Beneath the Bench

Radiule

As I stuffed my overnight bag with the supplies I would need for my night in Radiule, it came to me that I didn't really know what to expect with the huge underground city. Obviously I had tried to picture the system of tunnels and offices, but whenever I did it always ended up looking scary, gloomy and far from somewhere I would ever want to live!
After I had lugged my messy packed bag down the stairs, I ate a quick Pop-Tart and met my mum in the car.
"You going to the train station then love?" She asked, I nodded and we drove to the Manchester train station. I was hoping that she wouldn't ask to see my ticket as I didn't have one...
"Thanks mum!" I shouted and ran onto the platform I had planned to meet Jake on - 4.
"Hi, you ready?" I heard a familiar voice shout from behind me.
"Hell yeah...and you need to stop coming out of nowhere like that, you scared me!" He laughed.
"Oh I'm so sorry..." He gushed in a fake apologetic voice, dramatically holding out his hand for me to hold.
"Which way?" I asked looking around the busy station.
"Isn't it obviously? Oh sorry it's not really follow me..." He hung his head when he saw me look at him with a 'disappointed expression, before bursting out laughing.
We approached a bench with a plaque saying Fred Davis. "He was a famous Radicier, he banished all legends that used to exist about us." Jake whispered in my ear. He sat me down on the bench. "Close you eyes and repeat after me.....oscail urlar." I closed my eyes.
"Oscail urlar?" He held my hand and I felt a gush of wind in my hair, then the sound of voices.
"And....open!" I opened my eyes and gasped to see a huge lit up chamber and a row of benches, all dedicated to Fred Davis. "They're scattered all around the city, the password is in a different language each year, this year it's Gaelic." He said when he saw me looking.
"Hi! Welcome to Radiule would you like a free guided tour?" A girl around my age asked.
"Not today Rachel, she's with me..." Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Someone special Jake?" He blushed.
"You could say that...." He mumbled, embarrassed.
"Well aren't you going to introduce me Jake?" I asked, waving at Rachel. "I'm Trace." I said shaking her hand.
"Your lucky to have him none of us here have ever been able to understand Jake." I grinned.
"Hey! Watch it you!" Jake playfully punched Rachel's arm. She walked away with her arms in the air, giggling to herself.
"She seemed nice!" He nodded.
"Yeah, she never forgets a face it's her unique ability, so she gives tours because she remembers the owners of all the shops and stuff, that's how she knew you were new..." He said.
"That's cool.....you going to give me the tour then." He stood up straight and said in a strong cockney accent :
"Right this way ma'am!" I laughed. "I would thank you to concentrate please madam, this is a very serious tour!" I mimed zipping my lips. "Just kidding, where do you want to go first Trace?" I didn't know where I had to choose from.
"One question, is this a tattoo I got at birth?" He laughed as I thrust my birthmark in his face.
"Kinda, how else would you tell the difference between humans and Radiciers?" He said shrugging.
"I guess that makes sense...." I mumbled feeling stupid. He put his hand around my waist so I quickly forgave him.
"I'll bring you to the clothes shop, get something to go with your eyes." I looked anxiously into my purse.
"Is it stupid to ask if they take pounds here?" He chuckled.
"What do think this is Harry Potter? No they still take sterling here." I sighed.
"Cool because that's all I have!" I chuckled. We walked into a well lit 'street' with rows of three story shops and houses, it reminded me of a shopping centre, busy with many blue eyed beings some coved by a crazy colour, some left their natural shade of deep blue.
"The main shop down here is Tay's Outfitters but there's also Groundbreakers and Imo's accessory's." I frowned.
"Where do they get their stock from?" He smiled.
"Um we sometimes get stuff from high street stores outlet, but usually we get it from a source in North Devon, pretty much just like any other shop." He shrugged. We carried on walking and stopped in front of a huge store labeled with Tay's Outfitters. I fiddled with my purse and he stopped me.
"Come on! Let me buy you a t shirt?" I shook my head.
"You really don't have to Jake...." He smiled.
"I insist!" I laughed and nodded so we walked in.
The rows were filled with shades of blue, black, yellow and pinks, it was a crazy storm of colour and shade.
Then I saw it! It was beautiful! A blue tee with a white eye shape in a subtle tie dye in the middle. The back: a shield like the one imprinted on my arm. "It's the only range that's made here...." Jake whispered in my ear. The same t shirt was in many colours and styles along the shelf.
"It's....um relatable sure....but I like it!" He picked it up.
"Do you want it?" He asked I nodded. "Ok!" We walked towards the desk. "This one Tay." He said to the tall cashier.
"Ok is that all Jake?" She asked. "Really that's all you would need, your eyes are the bluest I've ever seen and live in a population of blue eyed folk!" We laughed and shook hands.
"I'm Trace and I'm in love with your range. Very eye catching." She frowned before giggling.
"Was that pun purposeful?" I blushed.
"Bye Tay." Jake said waving before whisking me out of the shop. "We can go meet my parents now." He said and we walked towards a sign baring: 'Crystal Towers'...